Spring Training is right around the corner for the 2023 New York Mets. As they gear up for the start of their work for the year down in Port St. Lucie, they are working on coordinating who their guest instructors will be and have one Mets legend in mind.
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New York Mets hoping to get David Wright at Spring Training for Brett Baty and Mark Vientos:
Yesterday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that the Mets are in the process of putting together who their instructors will be. Puma stated that Mets officials “want David Wright working with Brett Baty and Mark Vientos.”
Wright, one of four captains in Mets franchise history, is one of the best to ever suit up in the uniform. He was a complete player, whether it was hitting for contact, power, or his glove at the hot corner. Knowing how talented and pivotal Baty and Vientos are to the future of the Mets but still needing some development, few former Mets are better for them to learn from than Wright.
Baty is 23 years old, the Mets’ second-ranked prospect, and 18th overall per MLB Pipeline. He has all the pure talent with his ability to hit for power and contact, his strong arm, and his size (6-foot-3, 210 lbs.). Down the stretch in 2022, Baty was able to gain some major league experience with the Mets. Flashes of hope were evident as he hit two home runs in 11 games and showcased his natural swing. Some struggles were had as well, though, both offensively and defensively. In particular, as a third baseman, Baty could use some refinement, which is where working with Wright could certainly come in handy.
Then, with Vientos, he is another talented 23-year-old with loads of height (6-foot-4), power, and arm strength. He is the Mets’ seventh-rated prospect on MLB Pipeline. Vientos was also able to get some experience in the big leagues toward the end of last season. He hit one homer but did strikeout on a third of his at-bats (12-36). Vientos, while he has a strong arm, could benefit from some help to improve his defense. While Vientos has proven some positional flexibility (1B, SS, 3B, LF), learning how to master the hot corner from Wright can only help.
It is exciting to hear that the Mets want to invest specifically in Baty and Vientos, two of their top young prospects. The talent is there for both of them to be great long-term assets to the Mets. Continued growth at the plate, learning how to take at-bats, allowing their power to take over, and defensively with their gloves, knowing they have strong arms already, will enable them to fulfill their potential. Hopefully, for the betterment of their futures, they are able to gain experience working with one of the best Mets ever in Wright.